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"Day Opportunities"

About: Learning Disability Community Services / Day Opportunities

(as a parent/guardian),

I am so glad to have this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Day Opportunities team over the years.

As the parent of a young man with a learning disability a major concern was always how he would cope with the challenges of adult life when his special school days would end. Where would he live when we would no longer be able to care for him? What would he do each day that would give him a sense of worth and satisfaction?

In 2002 the question of living accommodation was addressed when our church established Willow Brook, a supported housing scheme in Coleraine.

However, when he left Sandelford school, the question of his daytime activities was faced with some trepidation. As he entered his 20s, Mount Fern Day centre, together with various life skills courses at local colleges and work experience in various retail outlets were all most helpful. However, lacking was a sense of continuity that a regular more secure job could give.

And into this scenario some 25 years ago came Garth and his colleague with a vision for the creation of Day Opportunities for people who in previous generations were regarded as having no place in the workplace.

With their good offices our son was given a job, as a volunteer at first and then on their regular paid staff. And there he went on to work for the next 25 years, enjoying the work and helped and encouraged by his Job Coach from Day Opportunities.

So as a family we have appreciated so much the work of the Day Opportunities team over the years. We are grateful for the opportunity that was given to our son to live a life with purpose and a sense of fulfilment.

And it is my prayer that the work of this programme of the Board may continue and expand so that the learning-disabled community in our midst can rejoice in the opportunities given them.

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Responses

Response from Garth Anderson, Day Opportunities Programme Manager, Day Opportunities, NHSCT 4 weeks ago
Garth Anderson
Day Opportunities Programme Manager, Day Opportunities,
NHSCT
Submitted on 06/06/2025 at 15:19
Published on Care Opinion at 15:19


Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to post your comments. What a remarkable supportive journey for your son with your support and support of his family with clear ambitions of a meaningful life ....25 years in regular employment and living in his own home with support is a great achievement. I am very pleased we have been able to contribute towards this success, between statutory adult centre day services on leaving school building on skills and development from special education and then ongoing continuity of support through our Day Opportunities service in partnership with the voluntary and community sector to support the achievements outlined. Creating meaningful, individually tailored fulfilling day opportunities is our goal and thank you for your good wishes for the continuation of such services going forward.

Garth Anderson (Head of Service; Day Opportunities)

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